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Wednesday, February 26, 2014

John Bassett, singer/songwriter of KingBathmat, is set to release his first solo album called Unearth. He has just release his first promo video for the opening track of the album.The video was filmed on location in Hastings and St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex UK.Unearth will be released on March 31st and is available to pre-order on CD and Digital Download at bandcamp and amazon.

Bigelf are set to release their new album Into the Maelstrom on April 1 via InsideOut Music, and the band have made a free download available of the brand new track Alien Frequency. You can head to this special Bigelf page and grab the song now: http://insideoutmusic.com/specials/bigelf/ Fans can also find a special EPK clip on the page, which gives a little insight into the making of Into the Maelstrom through interviews with Damon Fox. Into the Maelstrom will be available on a limited 2CD digipak which includes exclusive re-mixes & demo versions, as well as a gatefold 2LP vinyl edition which includes the full album on CD. The album also marks the recording debut of Mike Portnoy (Transatlantic, The Winery Dogs) with Bigelf, whose Progressive Nation at Sea Cruise just took place last week and where Bigelf played alongside bands such as Transatlantic, Devin Townsend Project, Riverside & Adrian Belew Power Trio.You can now pre-order the album from the InsideOut Shop here: http://smarturl.it/bigelfIOM

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Finnish prog/hard rock act Montage have released a new song from their upcoming debut album. Formed in 2011, their music is a mixture of traditional hard rock and the hazy sounds of folk, early prog rock and psychedelia.Montage’s debut album, due to be released in May 2014, will consist of eight eclectic hard rock songs, featuring such titles as Misty High, Strawberry Skies and Devil's Whip.

Montage are Mikko Heino on lead vocals, Roni Seppänen on guitar, Jukka Virtanen on keys, Taneli Tulkki on bass, and Kim Etelävuori on drums. The group will announce more information about their album and upcoming gigs in the next few weeks.Check out the 1960’s inspired Strawberry Skies:

Saturday, February 22, 2014

No sooner has he disembarked from the Progressive Nation at Sea show, Canadian metal progger Devin Townsend has started a pledge drive to finance a new musical project: The Casualties of Cool. After the success of his Retinal Circus shows and the DTP albums, Devin feels he can change directions musically with this one project, while maintaining his metal side on his other project.For this to happen, Devin has set up a pledge site on Pledge Music. Fans will be able to watch the project as it develops. Read the whole thing and pledge, this man is a wonderfully creative musician.UPDATE: Inside of 12 hours, the pledge drive has amassed more than 250% of the needed money. Devin sent a note through his Twitter handle to thank the fans, and promised other projects will be financed with the surplus, including his Z2 project.The pledge drive still has 68 days until the end.

Steven Wilson announced this week that he is writing and preparing to record a follow-up to his critically acclaimed The Raven That Refused to Sing (and Other Stories).Steven just completed a limited tour of Europe with Blackfield and an extensive tour of the world with his solo shows. Listeners of the IPRS have voted The Raven That Refused to Sing their Top Album of 2013.Here is Steven's post in full:

This week sees the first anniversary of the release of The Raven that Refused to Sing, which as well as hitting a personal high water mark, has subsequently become the most acclaimed and best selling album of my career. After more than 20 years and 30-40 albums that is a humbling and extremely gratifying thing to be able to say!

This year will see the writing and recording of the follow up album to The Raven that Refused to Sing (news, audio and video from those sessions when we have it), and next year will see a lot of touring with a new live show, planned to be even more spectacular than the one presented in 2013.

Marillion have announced the dates of all three Marillion Weekends to be held in 2015. More info will be forthcoming, as will dates for ticket sales.1st Weekend will be at Port Zeeland in the Netherlands on 20 - 22 March 2015.2nd Weekend will be held in England, at an as yet undisclosed venue on 10 - 12 April 2015.3rd Weekend will be held in Montréal, Canada, at the Olympia, on 24 - 26 April 2015.The big question on everybody's mind is what album will be featured on the Friday night, as it is a tradition to do a full album, including B-sides of singles, on the first night of the weekend. I'm hoping for Marbles as it is its 10th anniversary this year.Usually ticket sales are in June or July, but the full info will be revealed in April.

Friday, February 21, 2014

Francesco Di Giacomo, long-time vocalist and leader of Italian prog band Banco del Mutuo Soccorso has died today in head-on collision at the age of 67. According to Rome's Il Messaggero newspaper it appears the singer was struck by an illness while driving his car at around 6PM. The car swerved into the oncoming lane and a Rover struck his Toyota. Francesco died on his way to the hospital, the woman in the Rover was treated for shock.Banco del Mutuo Soccorso was formed in 1969 and with its country-mates, PFM and Le Orme, are part of the first Italian wave of progressive rock, and are still active today. Even though Banco's last studio album dates from 1997 with Nudo, they continued to tour throughout the 2000s and only last year released a DVD of their performance of the classic Darwin!

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Camel and keyboardist Guy LeBlanc have both announced on their respective websites that, due to ill health, Guy will not perform on the March 2014 tour. We already miss our friend's influence and his place within Camel will be waiting for his return.Ton Scherpenzeel has agreed to step in as keyboardist on the tour to help Camel keep the show on the road. Ton, fans will remember, is the keyboardist and leader of prog band Kayak and also toured with Camel during the European segment of their 2003 Farewell tour.Camel says they support Guy's leaving to seek treatment and await his return.Guy LeBlanc, on his Facebook page, gave a bit more information concerning his illness. Here is the statement in full:

One of the greatest joys of my life was the opportunity to join Camel for the comeback/Retirement Sucks tour of 2013. The whole thing was an amazing experience; performing this music for all the wonderful people who came to all the shows. The positive emotions felt throughout transcended mere words, and the camaraderie and joviality within the band and crew still evokes smiles from my lips on a daily basis.

Since being diagnosed with an allegedly incurable renal cancer that has metastasized in my bones, I've been undergoing radiation treatment, to which it seems I've responded well. I've also been taking a drug to try shrinking the tumours (best case scenario) in order to buy me more time in this mortal coil.

I had hoped to be in a stable course of treatment so I could join my buddies again for the March tour, which is now upon us, but developments in the last couple of weeks have made it necessary for me to bow out of this tour so that I may focus on my recovery and the recommendations of my doctors.

I'm so glad that Ton has agreed to do this, and also very relieved. It saddens me deeply that I will not see my friends, but the love and support I've received gives me strength and I look forward to seeing everyone again once this hurdle is passed.

Saturday, February 15, 2014

The 5th annual Listeners' Choice for Top CDs of the year are out. Thank you all for having participated. The eligible CDs were released between December 2013 and November 2014. Listen to the latest IPRS for the whole Top 20 list. This list is for numbers 20 to 11, the rest will be posted next week.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

California based progressive rock band Magellan co-founder and multi-instrumentalist Wayne Gardner died from a self inflicted use of a firearm on February 10th.Wayne had been suffering for the past few years from a brain tumor that brought him constant pain and migraines. Although some medical help brought temporary relief, the pain finally had the better of him.Wayne and his brother Trent formed Magellan in 1985 at the height of the Neo-Prog movement brought on by UK bands like Marillion, Pallas, IQ, and Pendragon. They are best known for their 2002 release Hundred Year Flood containing the majestic epic called The Great Goodnight.Their last album released was InnocentGod in 2007, although they have remained active by releasing singles through iTunes. They had been in the process of recording and releasing a new album, Inert Momentum.Their latest release was a single called Cynic's Anthem, released on iTunes in November 2013. You can hear it here.Trent Gardner has written a wonderful and thought provoking post on the band's website. You can read it here.Our thoughts are with Wayne's family and friends.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Asia, the legendary British band, moves into the next phase of its extraordinary career with Gravitas, a brave new album that explores different musical landscapes while embracing its familiar musical past. Produced and written by band members John Wetton and Geoff Downes, Gravitas is deeply introspective within a clearly accessible sound. The album also introduces the world to Asia’s new guitarist, Sam Coulson, who came at the recommendation of Mr. Big’s Paul Gilbert.Scheduled for release on Frontiers Records on March 5th (Japan); March 21st(Europe); and March 25th(North America), the album will be available in two configurations: a standard CD and a Deluxe Edition, that will include two bonus tracks and a DVD containing the Valkyrie music video, a promotional film, and footage of classic live Asia tracks such as Heat of the Moment, recorded with the Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra in Bulgaria.

“Pure, unadulterated and stereotypical Asia, with raw energy, enthusiasm and free from impurities,” says John Wetton. “ It conveys the spectrum of emotion and colour from real life agonies to ecstatic fantasy of escapism. Great songs, fabulous performance. Gravitas is Asia by Asia. At last.”

“With the addition of Sam it allowed us to take the band in a slightly different, and perhaps tougher, direction.” says Carl Palmer. “He brings a different feel to Asia with his guitar work. As a band we have been able to grow, while at the same time, remain true to the classic Asia sound that our fans know and love.”

Gravitas tracklist:1. Valkyrie2. Gravitas3. The Closer I Get fo You4. Nyctophobia5. Russian Dolls6. Heaven Help Me Now7. I Would Die for You8. Joe Di Maggio’s Glove9. Till We Meet Again 10. The Closer I Get fo You (acoustic bonus) 11. Joe Di Maggio’s Glove (acoustic bonus)Asia will embark on a world tour starting in June, and set to include Japan, UK, Europe, Canada and the United States.Asia website: http://www.originalasia.com/index.phpAsia tour date list: http://originalasia.com/tour-dates-2/

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Curved Air will release their first album to feature new music since 1976's Airborne (not counting 1990's Lovechild, which was a collection of unreleased songs recorded during 1972-1973).North Star is a full length CD featuring a mixture of re-recordings, cover songs, and seven
new original songs, all housed in a lavish digi-pack. A first single, Colder Than a Rose in Snow, was released last year. A second single, Stay Human, is expected before the release of the CD.Original members Sonja Kristina and Florian Pilkington-Miksa were rejoined by Air Cut-era guitarist Kirby Gregory for studio sessions, alongside Paul Sax, Robert Norton and Chris Harris.North Star will be released via Cherry Red on March 17 and it’s available for pre-order now.Curved Air will tour the UK in March with The Strawbs and Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash before embarking on a headlining tour in April.

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